Article with electrically-conductive pattern

Abstract

An article is provided to have a transparent substrate; and an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface the transparent substrate. The electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern has, in order outwardly from a surface of the transparent substrate: a first darkening agent; a metallic pattern; and a second darkening agent. The first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern. In addition, the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface on the metallic pattern.

1 . An article comprising:
 a transparent substrate; and   an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface the transparent substrate,   wherein the electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern comprises, in order outwardly from a surface of the transparent substrate:   a first darkening agent;   a metallic pattern; and   a second darkening agent,   wherein the first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern, and   wherein the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface on the metallic pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first darkened surface and the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern, independently have an L* value that is reduced by at least 1 unit compared to an L* value of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein C* values of the first darkened surface and of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern are, independently closer to zero than C* values of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the L* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the L* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern are the same values, 5 L* units. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern are the same values to within ±25%. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern are the same values to within ±25%. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic pattern comprises copper, gold, aluminum, silver, or platinum. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , comprising two or more of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns disposed on the surface of the transparent substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern further comprises a pattern of a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the second surface of the metallic portion covered by the second darkening agent is substantially non-overlapping with the at least portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the pattern of the catalytic ink. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic pattern comprises a plurality of features that can be spaced apart or connected, which plurality of features can be the same or different for each metallic pattern. 
     
     
         12 . An article comprising:
 a continuous web of transparent polymeric film; and   a plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns spaced apart from each other and disposed on a surface of the continuous web of the transparent polymeric film,   wherein each of the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern includes, in order outwardly from the surface of the continuous web of the transparent polymeric film:   a first darkening agent;   a metallic pattern; and   a second darkening agent;   wherein the first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern; and   wherein the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface.   
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns comprise two or more of the same electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the first darkened surface and the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, independently have an L* value that is reduced by at least 1 unit compared to an L* value of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein C* values of the first darkened surface and of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns are, independently closer to zero than C* values of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the L* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the L* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern, of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, are the same values, ±5 L* units. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern, of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, are the same values to within ±25%. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns further comprises a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 18 , wherein the portion of the second surface of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the second darkening agent, of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, is substantially non-overlapping with the at least portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the catalytic ink.